Air Travel - Do You Bring Your Work?

narticus · Feb 2014

Does anyone here work on their art while flying? If so, what's your preferred setup?

I bought a laptop last year and was considering using it with my Intuos 4 on a plane next week. I will mainly be working in Zbrush. Will I be all cramped using both? It's hard to visualize how much space you have until you're actually in that seat. I'm flying economy on jet blue, nothing special. Anyone have experience with this?

LMP · Feb 2014

I can't imagine having much space to work flying economy.

Justin Meisse · Feb 2014

I sketch in a little moleskine or iPad but I barely have enough room for that flying economy.

McGreed · Feb 2014

I tried, but so far it's impossible, there is just not enough room to move your arm. And it's a shame because that kind of traveling is less bumpy and it would be easier to draw without getting a line going all across the area.

ambershee · Feb 2014

I wouldn't bother trying, even non-economy seats on most airlines won't give you the kind of space you probably want.

CapableWizard · Feb 2014

Last year I traveled on the train a lot, I had a setup where I placed an a5 bamboo over the keyboard on my laptop and just made sure all my hotkeys were on the extreme left of the keyboard. It actually worked remarkably well and I could quite easily work even when the train was super busy. Granted most airlines will give you less space than the trains I was on but not much less - I'd definitely say it was possible. I couldn't use anything other than Zbrush though, if you need more than half a dozen keys then obstructing the keyboard with your tablet isn't worth it!

X-One · Feb 2014

I can't imagine you'd have enough space to work in any comfort at all. Most of the time I just opt for a sketchbook, and usually I find even that restricting.

narticus · Feb 2014

Thanks for the tips. I'm bringing my laptop either way, to do some work while I'm there. So if it feels like there's enough room to break it out, I will.

Jeff Parrott · Feb 2014

Sketchbook and ballpoint pen all the way. If I'm really feeling crazy iPad finger painting.

katana · Feb 2014

^What he said...even works on the metro-North to NYC...bumpy tracks and all.

narticus · Feb 2014

Always have my sketchbook with me, but that won't really help. Trying to get something finished by the end of March and I need to use every free hour I have until then.

narticus · Feb 2014

...if only I could afford a Cintiq Companion

narticus · Mar 2014

Ok, so I actually had no problem at all working with my Ativ Book 8 (14.8" x 9.8" x 0.89") and my medium sized Intuos 4 (14.6" x 10" x 0.5"). I was in economy on jetblue, so maybe they have a little more room than other carriers? Either way, it worked out just fine. I did a lot of Zbrush modeling and a little 3ds Max work.

I would imagine if I was in a middle seat, it wouldn't have been as easy, so I would suggest an aisle or window seat if you're planning to do this.

monster · Mar 2014

Yeah, on my flight from Vancouver to Dallas, I had 3 seats to myself. I had my iPad on one side playing a movie, my laptop in the middle working in Maya, and a sandwich and drink on my right.

narticus · Mar 2014

Well that's just not fair. I guess living in NY, I will never have empty seats next to me, unless I'm flying to Alaska or something.

ZombieWells · Mar 2014

sketchbook always!!! I use it for a ton of things not only work... must of have a stack of them 4ft high by now. Also, I am trying out the surface pro 2... windows 8 isn't my cup of tea, but it runs everything I need it to run so.

MeshModeler · Mar 2014

lol one time on my way to gdc i was able to put my 13' macbook, bamboo fun, and external hdd on the table.

i was riding coach.

Lamont · Mar 2014

Sketchbook and ballpoint here... no need to be all fancy pants. Most of my flights last about 45 minutes, so just quick things. When I am on the shinkansen, I have a couple hours to kill and plenty of room... sketchbook and a drink!!

skankerzero · Mar 2014

Damn. You guys should chill out and just watch a movie.

Target_Renegade · Mar 2014

Interesting one, thought about doing some work on a plane, but never do. I find it more productive listening to music or watching a movie. Flying in itself is a momentous occasion. Chill.

.Wiki · Mar 2014

skankerzero wrote: »

Damn. You guys should chill out and just watch a movie.

Signed. I would just enjoy the view (if I got a place at the window). I only work at the office, in the sparetime or on travel I don´t want to think about work every minute.

Air Travel - Do You Bring Your Work?

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